Alexa privacy: Everything you need to know

Alexa’s privacy past and present 

Conversations around smart speakers like Alexa have changed since the device debuted. In 2019, several news outlets reported incidents where Alexa speakers recorded private conversations without users saying the wake word to start recording. A standout example came from a Washington Post columnist who found recordings of private business dealings and conversations over health-related issues stored in his Alexa archive, highlighting concerns about eavesdropping. While Amazon has improved people’s access to privacy controls through a privacy setting page, many still have concerns about what data is stored, how it’s stored, and who has access to it. 

What data does Alexa collect? 

Due to Amazon's reach within many users' homes, Alexa may collect various types of information. This speaker records your voice and stores sensitive data in an archive connected to your Amazon account. Alexa may also monitor your contacts, geolocation, and information for other smart device products, such as a Ring camera, Kindle, or Prime service.

Alexa records and archives recordings of your voice 

Every time you wake up Alexa (and sometimes even when you don’t intend to), it records your voice and sends the data to its server. Amazon puts the voice recording into a program that processes it and turns it into a text transcript, then directs Alexa to respond to your input. Amazon keeps the text transcript and voice recording indefinitely unless you turn off the storage feature. 

Alexa records and archives everything you say to it

Are you using Alexa for texting? The device will have access to the full-text transcript and your contacts. Are you using it to verify a scheduled dentist or doctor appointment? Alexa can access your entire calendar. Searching for signs of depression or how to find the best divorce lawyer? Amazon can see it all and store all your information until you change your settings to delete it. 

Alexa may record and archive voice recordings from your children

Due to Alexa’s design, it records every voice it picks up, including children's. Amazon products for kids, like an Amazon Kids profile and Echo Dot Kids Edition made for children 13 and under, have to ask for permission to collect data about your child. The types of data may include voice recordings, birthdates, photos, contact information, and location. 

Amazon gathers other types of personal information 

Anyone who uses Amazon services or has a Kindle, Prime account, or Alexa is having their private information collected by Amazon. What information does Amazon store? It can typically gain access to most personal information, including your pictures, age, location, search history, religion, family status, credit card information, or even your gender depending on your preferences and other privacy settings per Amazon’s devices and/or subscription-based services.

What does Amazon do with Alexa data? 

Amazon uses its customers' data for various purposes but generally collects it for advertising and AI training purposes. Amazon uses this data to create targeted advertising, enticing customers with ads for products and services they have previously shown interest in. It also uses voice recordings to enhance Alexa and train its language model.  

Alexa privacy concerns 

Understandably, many people are concerned about Alexa's privacy. Many services over-collect user data, whether to improve user experience, train AI, or target better advertisements. Here are common privacy concerns with Alexa: 

Always-on feature 

Due to how an Amazon Alexa device works, it is “always listening” for its wake word. That doesn’t mean it’s always recording, but the device is always on and in listening mode. 

What this means for your privacy is that the device could potentially pick up anything (although it shouldn’t record and store that information), but you can set up settings to delete Alexa voice recordings. 

Devices with cameras 

Many of Amazon's devices, such as the Echo Show or Spot, Ring, or Blink doorbell cameras, use motion detection to record video and audio sounds. For Echo Show and Spot, the home monitoring option must be turned on, while devices like the Blink and Ring doorbell record and store data automatically. Amazon then stores all the voice and video recordings, which is a big privacy concern for many.  

Voice recordings 

Devices like Alexa record, process, and then store voice recordings so they complete requests for their users. These text transcripts and recordings get stored and can be accessed by Amazon for any purpose unless you update privacy settings to delete recordings. 

Amazon may use this information for various reasons, including training AI, creating targeted advertisements, and creating extensive customer profiles. 

Hacking vulnerabilities 

Amazon stores its data in numerous data centers worldwide, including its cloud storage. All the customer data it stores (and any other information in its data warehouse) is susceptible to hacking. While the company likely has incredible protection against hackers, it’s possible that someone could hack its data. Devices like Alexa, Echo, Ring, and others may also be vulnerable to hacking. For that reason, voice and video recordings are also vulnerable. 

Targeted ads 

Like many modern technology and data companies, Amazon uses the data it collects to create profiles on its clients so it can sell products. It can also develop interest-based ads to show customers services or products they are already interested in. Alexa also utilizes customer information to create ad preferences and show you anything relevant.

How can you maximize Alexa's privacy settings? 

The good news is that you have multiple ways to protect your data and delete Alexa's history. Let’s take a look at some of the best strategies for maximizing your privacy. 

Automatically delete Alexa voice recordings

On your desktop, open your Amazon account and visit the privacy settings portal. Select “Voice recordings,” then click “Choose how long to save recordings.” Click “Don’t save recordings” and then confirm. 

In the app, open the “More” tab at the bottom. Select “Settings” and click “Alexa privacy.” Scroll until you see “Manage your Alexa data,” select “Voice recordings,” and then “Choose how long to save recordings.” Click “Don’t save recordings” for the best privacy.

Delete specific commands

If you accidentally tell Alexa something you don’t want it to store, you can request its removal. To do so, you’ll create a voice command to delete specific communications. You have to turn on this feature before you can use it: 

• On a laptop or desktop, open the “Privacy settings” portal. Select “Voice recordings," find “Enable deletion by voice,” and confirm. Then, you can give Alexa commands like “delete that,” “delete what I said,” or even “delete my entire voice history.”
• In the app, select the “More” tab at the bottom. Open “Settings” and click “Alexa privacy.” Find “Manage your Alexa data” and turn on “Enable deletion by voice.” 

Prevent human reviewers from accessing voice data

Amazon uses human workers to review voice recordings as part of its training for the Alexa algorithm, but you can opt out:

• On your desktop, open the “Privacy settings” portal and scroll down to “Help improve Alexa.” Select “Use of voice recording” and turn it off. Then, confirm “Turn off” when it pops up. 
• In the app, select the “More” button at the bottom of your screen and open “Settings.” Choose “Alexa privacy” and scroll down to find “Manage your Alexa data.” Select “Help improve Alexa” and then “Use of voice recordings” and turn off the settings. You will have to confirm this step. 

Switch off interest-based ads from third parties 

You can prevent Alexa from sharing your data with advertisers by changing a few settings:

• On your desktop, open your Amazon account and toggle it to the “Privacy settings” page. Scroll until you see “Interest-based ads from Amazon on Alexa” and find the button to turn it off. When the confirmation window appears, select “Turn off.” 
• In the app, open the “More” tab and select “Settings.” Click “Alexa privacy” and then scroll and open “Manage your Alexa data.” Scroll to find “Interest-based ads from Amazon on Alexa” and turn it off. Be sure to confirm it.